Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about your eyes and eye health? Below is a list of answers to our most common questions. If you don’t find what you are looking for go to our Ask a Doctor section and get a personalized response from our team of experts.

What Causes computer eye fatigue/strain?

Computer Screen:
Characters on a computer screen do not have sharp edges compared to the printed ones. The pixels are brightest at the center and decreases in intensity towards the edges. This makes it very difficult for our eyes to maintain focus. Trying to focus extensively do not allow the eye muscles to move frequently, and this leads to eye strain, burning and fatigue.
Computer users usually have a fixed posture. Gazing constantly at a computer screen from a close distance leads to convergence fatigue.

Image Clarity:
Lack of image clarity often makes a computer user to stare more intensely in an effort to focus.

Glare:
Glare from reflections and lights on computer screens from overhead lights or direct light coming through windows and bouncing off the screens tires the eyes.

Blink:
Infrequent blinking causes the tear film in our eyes to evaporate. While a person blinks 15 times per minute, the blink rate comes down to 5 times in a minute when working on a computer because of continuosly staring at the screen. Blinking is important for spreading of tears to form an even film on the eye surface. Inadequate blinking causes the eyes to become dry and irritated.

What Can Be Done To Reduce Computer eye fatigue/strain?

Anyone who has more than occasional discomfort should have a thorough eye check with an eye specialist. Apart from this a few precautions could reduce computer eye fatigue/strain.

Screen Distance:
Ideally the monitor should be at a distance of 16-30 inches from the eyes depending on the size of your screen. Also adjust the height of the computer table or the chair, so that the middle of the screen is 15-20 degrees below eye level. Always try to use an ergonomic chair as it helps in reducing neck and back pains in users.

Avoid Air Drafts:
Avoid sitting in front of a pedestal/table fan or an airconditioner facing its air draft while working on a computer.

Reducing Glare:
Position your computer screen so that the windows are to the side rather than the back or front. Using glare filter screens on monitors are helpful.

Blink More:
Make a conscious effort to blink more often. Try to blinkevery time you make a click with the mouse or every time you hit "ENTER!. Alternately you could try the suggested formula 20:20:20. That is, every 20 minutes : for 20 seconds : blink 20 times.

Use Eye Lubrication:
Lubricating eye drops help to moisterize your eyes. Eyes become dry and irritated by working for long hours on the computer. Lubricating eye drops help in reducing eye strain and redness, provides soothing effect to he eyes and releaves irritation.

Take A Break:
Take a 5 minute break for every thirty munutes of work on your computer. This can reduce eye fatigue and get you refreshed.

If you experience any of the following do not hesitate to consult your ophthalmologist.

Burning eyes, double vision, eye fatigue or tiredness, blurry distance vision when looking up from the monitor, dry, tired, or sore eyes, when you need to squint to focus on the screen, neck, shoulder, or back pain, when it seems that thr letters on the screen run together,headaches during or after working at the computer, when driving or during night vision is worse after using a computer, when you see "halos" around objects on the screen, and when you need to interrupt work frequently to rest eye.